Restore Your Oral Health With Oral Surgery
If you have a problem with your teeth, gums, or jaw, your first step should be to book a dentist appointment. The vast majority of dental and oral issues can be addressed and managed by routine care and preventative dental visits.
However, sometimes your dentist may recommend oral surgery if you have a tooth that is painful or broken. Itās important that you get this advice first. Going straight to an urgent care clinic or the ER can be a costly way to address dental issues, and they may only give you medicine and tell you to see a dentist anyway. Your dentist should be the person, in other words, who recommends surgery.
The most common reasons why your dentist will recommend surgery include:
- Painful or severely damaged teeth. Sometimes for orthodontic purposes as well.
- Impacted teeth. Sometimes there isnāt enough room for emerging teeth in your jaw, and they will need to be removed.
- Jaw-joint issues. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jaw to your skull, and it can develop several issues that are best addressed via surgery.
- Overbite or underbite. Severe cases of jaw misalignment can be treated via surgery.
To address these problems, your dentist may recommend oral or maxillofacial surgery. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons have extra training and education beyond whatās expected for a dentist. Some get a medical degree (an MD) along with their oral surgery diplomas. They put in at least 4 years of training in a hospital-based surgical program alongside medical residents in many different specialties, including anesthesia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your dentist is the best person to decide whether you need oral surgery. If you are experiencing issues with your teeth, gums, or jaw, you should talk to them first to determine your options.
